When it came time to pick a new e-mail platform, I really did not want “adequate.” I needed something much better– something built for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience generally. After nearly a years helping others with email marketing (and two years running my own e-newsletter), I wasn’t looking for simply a tool– I was searching for a correct companion Does Beehiiv Take A Cut.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack alternative?” I thought that also at first. But after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a great deal to claim– both the success and the weird traits. If you’re attempting to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the ideal platform for you, resolve in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email service providers (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that might in fact help expand my checklist and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t cutting it any longer.
So I started comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its rewards, however I was taking a look at this with the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted complete control over my audience and material.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Great Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little deeper, and fractures start showing. The biggest one? You don’t in fact possess your followers.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can’t email them directly. Can not export them. You’re generally renting out a target market you can never totally get to.
It’s like executing on a stage where the lights only turn on if the location determines to let the group see you. Does not really feel terrific.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a bar, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Also Excellent to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
Initially, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list development tools, and zero system costs (apart from the typical Stripe cut). Yet assurances are easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit strings didn’t seem like robots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a brand-new system normally feels like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Setting up kinds? No disasters. Attaching my custom-made domain? A couple of small hiccups, however absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the display.
Something I really valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Likewise, their support material– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– in fact felt human. Like someone sat down and said, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our customers today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Does Beehiiv Take A Cut
Currently below’s where points got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, yet do not anticipate it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can only be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it challenging to customize welcome sequences based on just how a person registered.
I ended up going full detective mode– playing with sectors, making use of separate landing pages, reviewing unknown Reddit threads– simply to build a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it doable? Absolutely. However if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might seem like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Fantastic, But Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a little a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, style, preview– it feels like it was developed by someone who’s in fact written a newsletter or two.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That means your magnificently crafted message might get sliced in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this the hard way– then decreased a bunny hole of screening tools to optimize HTML size and prevent that dreaded clipping.
My go-to method?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and checking size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a manual process, but it works. I also connected to Beehiiv about including much better size warnings. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Really Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference because switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In simply three months, I added over 160 brand-new subscribers to a quite particular niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I had not been also running paid ads.
A lot of that development originated from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can really track what’s functioning and where customers are originating from. Makes tweaking your approach a whole lot much easier.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash because for most developers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (literally).
Yet there’s even more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches creators with brand names in a manner that does not really feel disgusting or forced. It’s built-in income possibility, simple and simple Does Beehiiv Take A Cut.
And when I’m ready to introduce a premium subscription? I understand exactly what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Devices
What actually sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your visitors right into advocates without dangling awkward swag or single gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that wants you to do well. Not one that just desires a piece of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is ideal, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Support can be sluggish when you struck a weird pest or need deep help.
Some automations still feel as well basic.
Email size monitoring needs better in-app notifies (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Primarily missing.
So if you’re selling physical items or want abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best bet.
Verdict
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a listing, or simply tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your audience
You’re looking to grow fast without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that feels constructed by developers, for designers
Will it address every trouble? No. But in three months, it’s helped me grow faster, make much more, and tension less concerning the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit settling and really scale your e-newsletter with real devices that value your work and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.